Imagine the challenge. You’re a 15 year-old from a disadvantaged background with no established networks, but a desire to break into an industry that is highly reliant on them. Like publishing or advertising agencies. You could theoretically look at LinkedIn, but this requires you to create an online CV listing your professional experience.
Needless to say, you likely won’t have any just yet, so the fields don’t quite match the experience you’re looking to input. What’s more, if you are a young woman, there’s always the risk of attracting a batch of connection requests with (ahem) nefarious intentions.
This is where London-based EdTech startup UpTree comes in: a tech for good startup founded by an ex teacher and currently sharing office space with digital agency UsTwo, the company aims to motivate young people to get professionally connected before they leave secondary school, by filling in their own version of a professional profile.
Young people complete online profiles (CVs) that are tailored to those that are still in school; the platform also enables young people to safely connect to opportunities and professionals. The tech platform is aspiring to become a “LinkedIn for Young People”. Uptree works with with schools across London with a focus on those catering to a high number of students eligible for Free School Meals.
Despite the fact the company has only been launched in September 2016, it has clearly hit on a need; the company has amassed a range of clients including Google, Saatchi & Saatchi, TD Securities, Arcadia Group and IBM, all of which are working with Uptree to reach and attract more talent into their entry-level schemes such as apprenticeships and grad schemes. Most recently, the business has started hosting work experience sessions at companies for those still in school as well. It seems that age is increasingly no barrier to getting those networking skills under your belt.